Transitional living room photo in Toronto

The rooms in this charming 1920’s Burns Park home were completely compartmentalized (typical for homes built in this period). The homeowners wanted a more open space with sightlines into the dining and living spaces, and a kitchen that could accommodate more than one cook! We removed a wall and replaced it with a beautiful Butternut beam and countertop seating, a more casual eating area to supplement their dining room. Bringing this home into 2018 while paying respect to its historic neighborhood was an important part of this project. The personality, cabinetry and contemporary finishes in this kitchen better mirror this cheerful and vibrant family.

This remodel of a three-story San Francisco Victorian honors the timeless design while breathing fresh, modern life into the home. The clients’ new favorite room - the kitchen - is now bathed in light due to a skylight and floor-to-ceiling bi-folding steel framed doors. Beautiful custom wood cabinets and wood details add warmth, gorgeous tiles insert rich color and personality while the handcrafted concrete counters and sink bring a modern and functional touch. A new a arch opening into the kitchen matches the original casing detail – a way to pay homage to what was. On the upper level a master en suite bathroom was added and the kids’ rooms were opened up to provide more space within the existing footprint. On the lowest level the garage was expanded and an office and playroom were created.

Every inch of this 4,200-square-foot condo on Las Olas—two units combined into one inside the tallest building in Fort Lauderdale—is dripping with glamour, starting right away in the entrance with Phillip Jeffries’ Cloud wallpaper and crushed velvet gold chairs by Koket. Along with tearing out some of the bathrooms and installing sleek and chic new vanities, Laure Nell Interiors outfitted the residence with all the accoutrements that make it perfect for the owners—two doctors without children—to enjoy an evening at home alone or entertaining friends and family. On one side of the condo, we turned the previous kitchen into a wet bar off the family room. Inspired by One Hotel, the aesthetic here gives off permanent vacation vibes. A large rattan light fixture sets a beachy tone above a custom-designed oversized sofa. Also on this side of the unit, a light and bright guest bedroom, affectionately named the Bali Room, features Phillip Jeffries’ silver leaf wallpaper and heirloom artifacts that pay homage to the Indian heritage of one of the owners. In another more-moody guest room, a Currey and Co. Grand Lotus light fixture gives off a golden glow against Phillip Jeffries’ dip wallcovering behind an emerald green bed, while an artist hand painted the look on each wall. The other side of the condo took on an aesthetic that reads: The more bling, the better. Think crystals and chrome and a 78-inch circular diamond chandelier. The main kitchen, living room (where we custom-surged together Surya rugs), dining room (embellished with jewelry-like chain-link Yale sconces by Arteriors), office, and master bedroom (overlooking downtown and the ocean) all reside on this side of the residence. And then there’s perhaps the jewel of the home: the powder room, illuminated by Tom Dixon pendants. The homeowners hiked Machu Picchu together and fell in love with a piece of art on their trip that we designed the entire bathroom around. It’s one of many personal objets found throughout the condo, making this project a true labor of love.

Our design team rose to the occasion, making the yellow backsplash tile the true star of the show while the grey quartz counter tops and classic white shaker cabinets kept the space feeling contemporary and fresh. Incorporation of the original skylight, the vaulted ceiling, and full light glass patio doors add a sense of spaciousness and connection to the outdoors that had been lacking in the original space. Open Homes Photography, Inc.

Robert was my first client two years ago. He hired me for a "redo" after the passing of his wife. He wanted to pay homage to the artworks that she created during her lifetime. It was a great honor to curate so many pieces of artworks. As part of the art curation, we took art that had lived in storage for years, cleaned and framed it. Robert had a new appreciation of his wife's art. Robert's style is quite different than Hilda's. Walls were painted, wallpaper hung, new furniture and upholstery to reflect his personality.

The Yountville Residence was designed to accommodate three family generations coming together over food, wine, outdoor living and the land. Located amongst continuous vineyards on the broad flood plain of the Napa River, creating a strong sense of place was foremost. Rich in a culture of wine making and production from the land, the site demanded a design solution that honored its history and elevated the experience of the land. The house pays homage to its context by creating a reimagined agrarian compound. Conceived as a family of smaller buildings, the architecture comes together around a shaded patio and pool. The kitchen, dining, and living spaces all flow onto the shaded outdoor patio and gardens. Low-sloped gable roofs evoke the agricultural history of the region and echo the gentle slope of the foothills beyond. The home remains understated – quietly drawing one’s attention back to the magnificent natural features of the landscape. Gently pulled back into the heart of the serene vineyards, it is carefully oriented with Stag’s Leap at the foot of the Vaca Mountains to the East and the Mayacamas Range to the West. Scenic views continue uninterrupted through the home. Large window walls slide open and pocket on either side of the house, connecting the family to the outdoors and building a personal experience of place on the Valley floor. “If we can enrich people’s lives, and just maybe inspire them to do something beyond what they might otherwise have done, that brings us great satisfaction.” – Stan Field, fA Principal The connection of the architecture to the land goes beyond its visual connectivity. The design sensitively responds to land and place by recognizing key passive cooling and natural daylighting strategies present on the site. Broad overhanging roofs and the large slide away doors capture prevailing breezes up the valley. The patio, which is pulled close into a recessed cut-out in the main living space of the house, allows summer breezes across the pool to cool the house. Expansive windows and a narrow cross-section allow natural daylight to penetrate deep into the spaces and illuminate the rich and earthy palette of natural materials. The architecture created is a vehicle through which the powerful forms of the landscape craft a powerful experience of place. It is a respite from urban life, designed to bring one back to the basics: a love of family, land, food, and of course, wine.

The rooms in this charming 1920’s Burns Park home were completely compartmentalized (typical for homes built in this period). The homeowners wanted a more open space with sightlines into the dining and living spaces, and a kitchen that could accommodate more than one cook! We removed a wall and replaced it with a beautiful Butternut beam and countertop seating, a more casual eating area to supplement their dining room. Bringing this home into 2018 while paying respect to its historic neighborhood was an important part of this project. The personality, cabinetry and contemporary finishes in this kitchen better mirror this cheerful and vibrant family.

The Yountville Residence was designed to accommodate three family generations coming together over food, wine, outdoor living and the land. Located amongst continuous vineyards on the broad flood plain of the Napa River, creating a strong sense of place was foremost. Rich in a culture of wine making and production from the land, the site demanded a design solution that honored its history and elevated the experience of the land. The house pays homage to its context by creating a reimagined agrarian compound. Conceived as a family of smaller buildings, the architecture comes together around a shaded patio and pool. The kitchen, dining, and living spaces all flow onto the shaded outdoor patio and gardens. Low-sloped gable roofs evoke the agricultural history of the region and echo the gentle slope of the foothills beyond. The home remains understated – quietly drawing one’s attention back to the magnificent natural features of the landscape. Gently pulled back into the heart of the serene vineyards, it is carefully oriented with Stag’s Leap at the foot of the Vaca Mountains to the East and the Mayacamas Range to the West. Scenic views continue uninterrupted through the home. Large window walls slide open and pocket on either side of the house, connecting the family to the outdoors and building a personal experience of place on the Valley floor. “If we can enrich people’s lives, and just maybe inspire them to do something beyond what they might otherwise have done, that brings us great satisfaction.” – Stan Field, fA Principal The connection of the architecture to the land goes beyond its visual connectivity. The design sensitively responds to land and place by recognizing key passive cooling and natural daylighting strategies present on the site. Broad overhanging roofs and the large slide away doors capture prevailing breezes up the valley. The patio, which is pulled close into a recessed cut-out in the main living space of the house, allows summer breezes across the pool to cool the house. Expansive windows and a narrow cross-section allow natural daylight to penetrate deep into the spaces and illuminate the rich and earthy palette of natural materials. The architecture created is a vehicle through which the powerful forms of the landscape craft a powerful experience of place. It is a respite from urban life, designed to bring one back to the basics: a love of family, land, food, and of course, wine.

Adding a custom closet to your Orange County home is more than just a practical upgrade—it’s a way to transform how you live. With personalized closet solutions, you can maximize every inch of space, keeping your wardrobe organized and accessible. Whether it's walk-in closets with built-in shelving or smaller, efficiently designed reach-ins, custom closets bring order and style to any room. I recently worked with a client in Newport Beach who struggled with a cramped closet space in their master bedroom. After a custom redesign, we added adjustable shelves, shoe racks, and a hidden hamper, instantly creating a functional and enjoyable area to start their day. From improved storage to increased home value, custom closets are an investment that pays off in both form and function.

DRC Pools, the Best in Orange County for Pools, Masonry & Landscaping Based in Yorba Linda, California, DRC Pools has offered superior landscaping to Orange County residents for more than 13 years. Finding our beginnings in masonry as DR Construction more than 40 years ago, we have grown from a masonry company into a custom pool, spa, masonry, and landscape design company. DRC Pools has grown into a premiere custom pool, masonry, and landscape design contractor in Orange County. 90% of our work is completed in-house, allowing us to price ourselves competitively and helps us complete our work in a time-efficient manner. Our mission is to provide quality service and complete customer satisfaction in everything we do, whether it’s high-quality landscaping, masonry, pools, or anything else. DRC Pools promises to provide a unique design that will correspond to your lifestyle. Our designers work closely with you to ensure the desired result. We guarantee outstanding craftsmanship, personally inspecting every aspect of the job, and paying careful attention to even the smallest detail. Please view our photo gallery to see how our work illustrates out incomparable standards. See the quality of work DRC Pools provides and what distinguishes us from our competitors.

The age of this stunning home was honored by personalizing every area. We added a master suite and office on the second floor while maintaining the integrity and paying homage to the home's character. The combination of traditional elements and modern finishes truly made this project come to life. We incorporated wainscotting and mural wallpaper to carry the eye throughout the entire space. This traditional/transitional project included: Primary Bedroom, Family Room, Dining Room, Office, Windowseat

This penthouse condo in Raven Woods is home to an adventurous, nature-loving couple. With their children grown and starting families of their own, Jeremy and Cynthia (names changed) chose to downsize their livable space and “upsize” in quality and luxury. The couple hired us to help them achieve several well-defined goals: feeling immersed and connected to nature, having warm and welcoming spaces to host their family and friends, and selecting pieces that would support local makers and artisans. (If you know me, you know that nature, connection, and community are some of my most important values, personally and professionally — the perfect fit!) Using our comprehensive design process, we spent months designing, procuring, and installing their new, long-time home. The resulting spaces are breathtaking, creating a daily living experience that is full of serenity and bliss. Welcoming & Bright Home with Forest Views: Ahhh… can you imagine coming home to a space as bright and soothing as this one? To find inspiration for this home’s interiors, we needed to look no further than out the windows, where mountain views greet us to the north and the ocean beckons from the south. Paying homage to their locale, we curated a colour palette of subtle blues and grays, warm-toned woods, and natural materials, all set against a crisp, white backdrop. These help us create a seamless visual transition between the interior and exterior. Let’s start our tour in the living area… A Cozy Living Area with Warmth & Dimension: In the living area, the fireplace was the starting point for the design, as it determined the size of the space and the scale of our furnishings. To keep this area feeling cozy but not crowded, we selected this soft ottoman to serve as a table surface with a tray or as additional seating when Jeremy and Cynthia host guests. (Multi-purpose items are one of the 5 elements of The Simple Home.) Additional textures — the sofa, upholstered swivel chairs, pillows, and ceramic wall art reminiscent of sand dollars — offer further depth and dimension in this simple yet layered space. The result is a cozy living room area perfect for a relaxing read on an overcast day or a social evening by the fire. While daunting at first, this home’s small and open footprint offered a special opportunity for us to design thoughtful “zones”. To create a defined living space, we used an area rug to establish a border and situated the larger seating (the sofa) on the right. Its visual weight serves as a grounding barrier that naturally separates the living and dining areas. Overhead, the centrally located brass and glass chandelier serves as another focal point, making the entire living area feel like one unit. Last but not least… Styled with tall decorative lamps, this light oak and rattan console sits just behind the sofa, creating an additional visual barrier between the living and dining areas. We styled it with accessories that complement the overall palette, and it has the added benefit of providing storage right where Jeremy and Cynthia need it, the dining area. An Art-Infused Dining Area: The dining area is warm, woodsy, and filled with locally sourced art that Jeremy and Cynthia love. Next to the console is a custom textile piece from Vancouver artist, With Strings Attached, that mimics the scenic, mountain backdrop. The blue hues of the piece work in harmony with the warm wood dining table, cool gray upholstered chairs, and neutral stools at the kitchen bar. On the other side of the space, is Jeremy’s and Cynthia’s favourite piece, a commissioned work of art by local maker, Katie Napier. Carefully positioned in a central location and framed by two modern sconces, this piece captures the feel of gentle waters on a misty day and evokes calm. Other curated pieces include this rectangular vessel centrepiece by sculptural artist, Martha Sturdy, bearing a stunning moss arrangement by Soul Roots Moss Art. As this couple can attest, a treasured memento or piece of art can transform your space and your mood, transporting you to a relaxed and peaceful state. A Bedroom Full of Light & Texture: This beautiful bedroom is another manifestation of Jeremy and Cynthia’s favourite experiences: hiking the rainforest trails and enjoying the spray of the sea. The blue-and-green branching pattern found in the window treatments and pillows ground the space, while bright turquoise lamps — akin to sea glass — infuse the room with a touch of coastal vibrance. Similar to the living area, we added comfort through texture and warm tones, incorporating oak end tables, natural woven wall decor above the headboard, knitted ottomans at the foot of the bed, a textured duvet, and an extra plush area rug. A Loft Inspired by Flora & Fauna: For the loft space, we moved away from coastal elements and decided to ground the space in the more earthy elements of nature: flora and fauna. We selected an umber-hued sofa complemented by floral decorative pillows and walls adorned with botanical prints by Heather Johnston. This multi-purpose space serves as a reprieve for our clients to read, practice yoga, and relax. Alternatively, a Frame TV intentionally meant to blend as art allows the space to function as a secondary entertainment space or a place for their granddaughter to play and sleep over. Praise from Our Clients: This home’s small footprint pushed us to be more resourceful in our furniture sourcing and more creative in our space planning. The result is a home as livable, beautiful, and intentional as any larger home would be. Most importantly, Jeremy and Cynthia love it! “Lori listened to our love of nature and designed our condo reflecting that love. It is beautiful, serene, and welcoming. We couldn't be happier.” If you’re ready to uncover the hidden potential in your home, that is what we do best. Contact us here or download our complimentary guide below to discover more.

Jill Buckner Photography Seeking a comfortable and casual weekend home for their family, our clients ask for the design team to create a system sophisticated yet "unbuttoned” space to complement their Harbor Country lakeside retreat. Every detail of the space – from the custom cabinetry and millwork to the exaggerated curved legs of the oversized island – was redesigned to add a touch of style and character. The repurposed barn wood throughout incorporates a rustic element, paying homage to the home's natural surroundings. The final redesign pulls together layers of natural elements to blur the line between indoor and outdoor living. For more than 40 years, Fredman Design Group has been in the business of Interior Design. Throughout the years, we’ve built long-lasting relationships with our clients through our client-centric approach. When creating designs, our decisions depend on the personality of our clients—their dreams and their aspirations. We manifest their lifestyle by incorporating elements of design with those of our clients to create a unique environment, down to the details of the upholstery and accessories. We love it when a home feels finished and lived in, with various layers and textures. While each of our clients and their stories has varied over the years, they’ve come to trust us with their projects—whether it’s a single room to the larger complete renovation, addition, or new construction. They value the collaborative team that is behind each project, embracing the diversity that each designer is able to bring to their project through their love of art, travel, fashion, nature, history, architecture or film—ultimately falling in love with the nurturing environments we create for them. We are grateful for the opportunity to tell each of clients’ stories through design. What story can we help you tell? Call us today to schedule your complimentary consultation - 312-587-9184

Located in the picturesque landscape of Limassol, Cyprus, residence showcases our experience in blending modern architecture with the rugged beauty of the mountainous terrain. Our approach to this project was guided by the principle of enhancing the natural landscape, rather than imposing on it. The uniqueness of Stone lies in its partial integration into the mountain itself. This design choice not only pays respect to the local geography but also serves practical purposes, offering improved thermal insulation and structural stability. Thoughtful planning of the residence reflects our understanding of the client’s lifestyle and needs. For example, the main entrance, garage, and a dedicated workspace suited for remote work - an increasingly common aspect of modern life - are located on the ground floor. The first floor emphasizes privacy and comfort. The master bedroom, kids‘ bedrooms provide personal space for retreat while a shared terrace connects these spaces, offering stunning mountain views. The basement is where architectural ingenuity truly shines. Envisioned as a space for relaxation and entertaining, this floor seamlessly transitions between indoor and outdoor living. One side of the basement is partially integrated into the mountainside, creating a cozy nook for relaxation, while the other side opens onto a spacious terrace with an open pool and outdoor theater. Size / 810 sq.m. Year / 2024 Location / Limassol, Cyprus

Every area of our clients’ home was addressed, paying close attention to details, accents and flow of design. The old painted stair rail was replaced with the custom, hand-carved cherry wood railing with oil rubbed bronze spindles that complement the homes’ new lighting. The montage of custom framed mirrors above the chest in the front foyer accents the stair railing and large chandelier. Finishing accents and custom details make all the difference to a complete, personalized and curated look. Photo by Graham Twomey

No strangers to remodeling, the new owners of this St. Paul tudor knew they could update this decrepit 1920 duplex into a single-family forever home. A list of desired amenities was a catalyst for turning a bedroom into a large mudroom, an open kitchen space where their large family can gather, an additional exterior door for direct access to a patio, two home offices, an additional laundry room central to bedrooms, and a large master bathroom. To best understand the complexity of the floor plan changes, see the construction documents. As for the aesthetic, this was inspired by a deep appreciation for the durability, colors, textures and simplicity of Norwegian design. The home’s light paint colors set a positive tone. An abundance of tile creates character. New lighting reflecting the home’s original design is mixed with simplistic modern lighting. To pay homage to the original character several light fixtures were reused, wallpaper was repurposed at a ceiling, the chimney was exposed, and a new coffered ceiling was created. Overall, this eclectic design style was carefully thought out to create a cohesive design throughout the home. Come see this project in person, September 29 – 30th on the 2018 Castle Home Tour.

Ryann Ford
Example of a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor entryway design in Austin with gray walls and a black front door

Despite its diamond-mullioned exterior, this stately home’s interior takes a more light-hearted approach to design. The Dove White inset cabinetry is classic, with recessed panel doors, a deep bevel inside profile and a matching hood. Streamlined brass cup pulls and knobs are timeless. Departing from the ubiquitous crown molding is a square top trim. The layout supplies plenty of function: a paneled refrigerator; prep sink on the island; built-in microwave and second oven; built-in coffee maker; and a paneled wine refrigerator. Contrast is provided by the countertops and backsplash: honed black Jet Mist granite on the perimeter and a statement-making island top of exuberantly-patterned Arabescato Corchia Italian marble. Flooring pays homage to terrazzo floors popular in the 70’s: “Geotzzo” tiles of inlaid gray and Bianco Dolomite marble. Field tiles in the breakfast area and cooking zone perimeter are a mix of small chips; feature tiles under the island have modern rectangular Bianco Dolomite shapes. Enameled metal pendants and maple stools and dining chairs add a mid-century Scandinavian touch. The turquoise on the table base is a delightful surprise. An adjacent pantry has tall storage, cozy window seats, a playful petal table, colorful upholstered ottomans and a whimsical “balloon animal” stool. This kitchen was done in collaboration with Daniel Heighes Wismer and Greg Dufner of Dufner Heighes and Sarah Witkin of Bilotta Architecture. It is the personal kitchen of the CEO of Sandow Media, Erica Holborn. Click here to read the article on her home featured in Interior Designer Magazine. Photographer: John Ellis Description written by Paulette Gambacorta adapted for Houzz.